Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Build a functioning general-purpose computer from scratch.
- Demonstrate how to plan, install, and troubleshoot a Local Area Network, connecting it to a Wide Area Network.
- Demonstrate how to manage a server for the purposes of providing specific services to a collection of users and devices, including manipulation of user accounts, resource management, and security.
- Demonstrate how to maintain a collection of devices using remote management tools in both centralized locations and across de-centralized organizations.
- Describe how to plan major and minor tasks and time so that services are stable and effective, and meet a Service Level Agreement.
- Produce written documentation of system problems, solutions, processes, and procedures.
- Create programs and demonstrate facility in programs and tools that automate system administration tasks.
- Participate effectively in a team environment.
These are the official course learning outcomes as of Spring 2026.
Coverage Matrix
Section titled “Coverage Matrix”The table below maps each learning outcome to the labs and assignments where it is assessed or practiced. Use this to verify that every outcome is covered and to find where a specific skill is developed.
| LO | Description | Labs | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Build a functioning general-purpose computer from scratch. | Lab 1a (Bare Metal) | - |
| 2 | Plan, install, and troubleshoot a LAN, connecting it to a WAN. | Lab 1b (AWS Setup), Lab 2 (WordPress on EC2) | A1 (Manual Minecraft) |
| 3 | Manage a server: services, user accounts, resources, security. | Lab 1b (AWS Setup), Lab 2 (WordPress), Lab 3 (Docker Compose), Lab 4 (ECR/S3), Lab 7 (k3s), Lab 8 (k8s Ops) | A1 (Manual Minecraft), A2 (Containerized), A4 (Orchestration) |
| 4 | Maintain devices using remote management tools. | Lab 6 (Ansible + CI/CD), Lab 7 (k3s), Lab 8 (k8s Ops) | A3 (Automation), A4 (Orchestration) |
| 5 | Plan tasks and time so services meet an SLA. | Lab 4 (ECR/S3), Lab 8 (k8s Ops), Lab 9 (Observability) | A2 (Containerized), A4 (Orchestration), A5 (Observability) |
| 6 | Produce written documentation of problems, solutions, and procedures. | Lab 1a (Bare Metal) | A1 (Manual Minecraft), A3 (Automation), A5 (Observability) |
| 7 | Create programs and tools that automate sysadmin tasks. | Lab 3 (Docker Compose), Lab 5 (Terraform), Lab 6 (Ansible + CI/CD), Lab 7 (k3s), Lab 9 (Observability) | A2 (Containerized), A3 (Automation), A4 (Orchestration), A5 (Observability) |
| 8 | Participate effectively in a team environment. | All labs can be completed in teams of two. | A4 (Orchestration), A5 (Observability) |